Britain's data centre expansion is set to significantly increase gas demand due to electricity grid connection delays. Developers are turning to fossil fuel generation as an alternative, with the number of large projects inquiring about gas connections rising from five to 24. The 720MW Quest Park Data Centre Campus in Bedfordshire exemplifies this trend, proposing a gas-fired power station to supplement grid access delayed until 2034.
Industry analysts project Britain's gas-fired power output could rise by 40 terawatt-hours—equivalent to 44 percent of last year's output—by 2035 if data centre growth accelerates. This surge threatens climate goals, with experts warning that without wider action, increased data centre deployment will increase carbon emissions. Officials are attempting to speed up connection queues and filter speculative projects.
While low-carbon alternatives like wind, solar, and small modular nuclear reactors exist, developers prioritize proximity to London clients, creating a bottleneck. The situation highlights the tension between AI infrastructure growth and sustainable energy targets, requiring policy reform to ensure faster grid connections without reverting to fossil fuels.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing